Abstract
Galactosaminoglycans (GalAGs) are sulfated glycans composed of alternating N-acetylgalactosamine and uronic acid units. Uronic acid epimerization, sulfation patterns and fucosylation are modifications observed on these molecules. GalAGs have been extensively studied and exploited because of their multiple biomedical functions. Chondroitin sulfates (CSs), the main representative family of GalAGs, have been used in alternative therapy of joint pain/inflammation and osteoarthritis. The relatively novel fucosylated chondroitin sulfate (FCS), commonly found in sea cucumbers, has been screened in multiple systems in addition to its widely studied anticoagulant action. Biomedical properties of GalAGs are directly dependent on the sugar composition, presence or lack of fucose branches, as well as sulfation patterns. Although research interest in GalAGs has increased considerably over the three last decades, perhaps motivated by the parallel progress of glycomics, serious questions concerning the effectiveness and potential side effects of GalAGs have recently been raised. Doubts have centered particularly on the beneficial functions of CS-based therapeutic supplements and the potential harmful effects of FCS as similarly observed for oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, as a contaminant of heparin. Unexpected components were also detected in CS-based pharmaceutical preparations. This review therefore aims to offer a discussion on (1) the current and potential therapeutic applications of GalAGs, including those of unique features extracted from marine sources, and (2) the potential drawbacks of this class of molecules when applied to medicine.
Highlights
Galactosaminoglycan (GalAG) is a term used to designate the classes and sub-classes of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) that contain N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) units as the hexosamine type in their repeating disaccharide building blocks
Carbon atoms are numbered according to their positions in the ring
Dermatan sulfate (DS) is able to interact with several GAG binding proteins (GBPs) that can be involved in events related to wound repair, including but not limited to IIa [113], activated protein C [141], collagen [142], fibronectin [143], α2β1-integrin [144], defensins [145], interferon-γ [146] and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) [147]
Summary
Galactosaminoglycan (GalAG) is a term used to designate the classes and sub-classes of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) that contain N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) units as the hexosamine type in their repeating disaccharide building blocks. The achievements new biological and medical functions, advanced structural analysis, development of novel and more made in these works have enabled great progress concerning the details underlying the biomedical efficient sequencing and analytical methods, and glycoengineering processes for partial or full chemical functions and physicochemical properties of GalAGs and placed these glycans in a special position synthesis of GalAG oligosaccharides in the laboratory. We offer an up-to-date overview regarding the main and marine sources, and highlight the downsides of these glycans regarding their current and chemical, biological and clinical aspects of GalAGs from both common and marine sources, and potential medical uses This subject is worthy of special attention from the scientific community. Potential harmful effects already pointed out in some basic studies
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